India on Tuesday dismissed Switzerland’s remarks at the UN Human Rights Council as “surprising, shallow, and ill-informed,” urging the country to instead address its own issues of racism and discrimination.
Kshitij Tyagi, counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, made the remarks during a general debate at the 60th session of the council. “We would also like to respond to the surprising, shallow, and ill-informed remarks made by Switzerland, a close friend and partner,” Tyagi said.
A Swiss delegate had called on India to “take effective measures to protect minorities and uphold the rights to the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media”.
Tyagi noted that Switzerland currently holds the council’s presidency, saying it was “all the more important for Switzerland to avoid wasting the Council’s time with narratives that are blatantly false and do not do justice to the reality of India.”
“Instead, it should focus on its own challenges such as racism, systematic discrimination and xenophobia. As the world’s largest, most diverse, and vibrant democracy with a civilisational embrace of pluralism, India remains ready to help Switzerland address these concerns,” he said.